The 'Ghost'

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

The was an enigmatic male leopard we saw at Timbavati. He is reputed to make an appearance and then suddenly disappear right under our nose! Thats what exactly he did before giving me a photo op! He was walking swiftly & just paused a moment & then carried on, hence the choice of techs.
f/4
1/1600
ISO 800

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Sanjeev, gorgeous light and I love the overall colour on this one. A bit more DoF as you had the SS would have been nice for the nose, but appreciate time & thinking sometimes does not allow this, although as you said, he was in walking mode . Like what appears to be a water droplet on the nose. Great detail in the eyes and you have those nice black areas around the eye nicely defined, cool. With those ears drawn back, he doesn't look like a happy bunny. If you had the time, a quick spin of the format may have given another option in framing this handsome fellow. If IQ allows, I might suggest you also explore a vertical format. At this size it should not be a problem, but if you choose to print at a larger size you may find you haven't enough info.

Certainly your images are conveying the excellent time you had.

TFS
Steve

[Carl Walker]

Hi Sanjeev - I'm loving this. A fine tom specimen with all the facial scars of past encounters with other males or female courtships. The subdued soft BG adds greatly to the subject I think. A great moment you have captured here which depicts a different form of behaviour from the norm shown here. The posture of laying back the ears(as Steve mentioned- and my initial thoughts were the same) could mean any number of things of things but unless you were there to witness it we have to interpret it as we see it. Here his attention seems focused elsewhere other than you so my guess would be that perhaps another vehicle in the sighting was irritating him or he was trying to refocus on the position of potential prey in the distance that it may have been stalking before you guys came along.

Back to the image, I agree with Steve on his comments and suggestions. TFS

[Gregor Bergquist]

Hi Sanjeev

WOW, this is absolutely magnificent, i love this one. Him lowering his head displays his broad skull, it makes him look so powerful. And you got that serious, almost sinister look. Seeing this picture and him, makes my mind spin in interpretations of what he is all about.
I would´t change a thing on this one, it is such a strong portrait I would blow it up big and hang on my wall, to watch every day. I always do like subdue colors like in this pic. For me this is a winner. Congrats to you, Sanjeev.

TFS / Gregor

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Thanks a lot Steve, Carl & Gregor. Yes, he wasn't very happy with our presence & most probably had a Duiker or Steinbok in sight & as soon as we arrived he got fidgety & started walking. He had such a stout neck (as if there was NO neck at all) and had this menacing look on him! We off-roaded for a while traversing really rough terrain leading to a small gorge where he silently disappeared. We thought he could pounce on us from any direction any moment we stayed in that territory! This was a sighting I shall remember for long

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Sanjeev - He does look like a big, older male and you have captured him well. I'm not sure I've seen this male in my trips to the Timbavati unless he's the one we saw in a fleeting night sighting on our most recent trip. Nice light, pose and details. Definitely the best of the leopard images you have posted so far. Good suggestions by Steve for in the field. Btw you forgot to include camera and lens here.

TFS,
Rachel

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Thanks Rachel, sorry I forgot to add that. The Camera was 5DIII & lens was the bare 500 II. I had just removed the extender a few mins before!

[Marc Mol]

Very nice Sanjeev, his ears back/apprehensive pose is depicted very well here something a little different from the norm, good tech suggestions from the others.
TFS

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Sanjeev this does look very good . Nice job in the field and at the computer . The nose well ......... next time keeping Steve in mind .
Like the pose and the overall color and density of the tones, you are coming a good way into the "right" direction .

TFS Andreas

[Anette Mossbacher]

Hi Sanjeev, a great pose and image. Love the details as well and the color, not to forget. Very well done.
have a great evening

ciao Anette

[Morkel Erasmus]

An impressive male specimen here Doc! I would tone down overall luminosity just a tad, I think you can get more tone and texture from the leopard that way.
Nose/DOF mentioned